Apparatus for washing golf balls



April 24, 1962 R. E. cooK 3,030,646

APPARATUS FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS Filed Jan. 4 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 AGENT.

April 24, 1962 R. E. COOK 3,030,646

I APPARATUS FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS Filed Jah. 4,1961 5 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR.

AGENT APPARATUS FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS Filed Jan. 4, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. A 2 05x1160]: BY

* -Jc C AGENT.

United States il e 3,030,645 APPARATUS FOR WASHING GOLF BALLS Robert E. Cook, 1050 Frederick t., Venice, Calif. Filed Jan. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 80,614 8 Claims. (Cl. 15--21) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing golf balls and in particular relates to an apparatus that may be used as a wheel for a golf or caddy cart or may be mounted on a stationary support for relative rotation therewith as a unit or as a plurality of intercooperating units.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that is adapted to contain water and having a ring shaped brush mounted therein, as well as a centrally located brush so that when said apparatus is rotated, it will bring the golf balls deposited therein into contact with the water and the brushes mounted therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that may have contact with a ground surface for the rotation thereof or mounted on a fixed support so that it may be rotated by means of a manually operated friction drive having operable engagement therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having inner and outer brushes that are spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball so that the golf ball will be forced to travel around the apparatus as it is rotated so that the golf ball is thoroughly cleaned.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having an excess opening provided therein, with a transparent access door covering the opening and the opening positioned above the level of the water placed in the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that will wash golf balls as the player is playing golf or will wash the golf balls at the club house after the game has been finished.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus which is durable, eflicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture that may be operated by a golf player, by caddies or any inexperienced person that is able to manually operate the apparatus.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention, showing the apparatus in use as a wheel of a golf or caddy cart;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with parts in section and parts removed to show the interior of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken transversely of the axis of rotation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed fragmentary view of the outer brush of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a detailed fragmentary view, showing portions of the outer brush of FIG. 4 anda modified form of the inner brush;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the apparatus mounted on a stationary support with a manually operated frictional drive in engagement therewith for the rotation thereof; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing a plurality of the apparatus mounted for cooperative driving engagement with each other and showing boxes associated therewith for containing clean or dirty golf balls.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like parts, the numeral 10 is used to generally designate an apparatus for washing golf balls embodying the invention.

The apparatus 10 may be said to resemble a wheel that is adapted to act or function as a ground engaging wheel, that may be used for a golf or caddy cart that accompanies a golfer when playing a game of golf. The apparatus or generally cylindrical shaped body 10 comprises a pair of mating sections 11 and 12 that are of similar configuration with each including a peripheral semi-circular portion 13--13, an annular indented or grooved portion 1414 and an elliptical shaped or bulged portion 15-15. The portions 14*-14' are welded to each other at their annular interior point of contact to provide a rim portion 16 in which is mounted a rubber tire 17, and a hollow central leak proof chamber 18 in which water or a cleaning fluid A is adapted to be poured.

The bulged portion 15 has a centrally located opening therein through which extends a shaft 19 and the shaft 19 extends outwardly of a support 20 in fixed relation thereto. A bearing portion 21 is fixed to the outer surface of the central portion of the bulged portion 15 and the bearing portion 21 is spaced sufliciently from the support 20 to permit rotation of the apparatus 11). A conical truncated mounting member 22, of any suitable resilient material, is mounted on the shaft 19 by reason of a longitudinally axially extending bore 23 and a ring shaped brush backing 24 is mounted on the member 22 by means of a tapered axially extending bore 25. A nut 26 threadably connected to the threaded outer end 27 of the shaft 19 is received in a recess 28 in the outer end of the brush backing 24. The nut 26 retaining the shaft 19, member 22 and brush backing 24 in fixed relation to each other. Outwardly longitudinally extending wing portions 29 and 30 extend outwardly of the brush backing 24 in opposed diametrically integral relation thereto and bristles 31 are provided on the outer edges of the wing portions 29 and 30. Mounted between the sections 11 and 12 within the chamber 18 in engagement with the interior surfaces of the sections 11 and 12 adjacent the mating and welded portions of the indented portions 1414, is a flexible brush backing 32 which is substantially of ring shape and equally spaced parallel bristle tufts 33 are secured in the brush backing 32, as shown in FIG. 4. The bristles 31 and brush tufts 33 are spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball B so that as the apparatus is rotated the golf ball B is carried around within the chamber 18, as shown in FIG. 2. The golf ball B rotating as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2, will be thoroughly cleaned of any dirt or debris adhering thereto.

In order that the golf balls B may be placed within the chamber 18, the portion 15 is provided with an access opening 34 and a closure ring 35 is hinged at 36 to the bulged portion 15' for closing relation therewith. A latch 37 mounted on the portion 15 adjacent the periphery of the ring 35 retains the ring 35 in closed relation to the opening 34. The ring 35 on the rear thereof is provided with an annular L-shaped mounting flange 38 in which is mounted a transparent circular disc 39. The disc 39 permits the observance of the interior of the chamber 18 to check the cleanliness of the golf balls B, the depth of the liquid A therein and when the golf ball B is in position to be removed from the chamber. To maintain the ring 35 in leak proof relation to the outer surface of the bulged portion lS', a circular'gasket 40 is mounted on the rear of the ring 35 outwardly of the flange 38, as shown in FIG. 3. i The liquidA in the chamber 18 maybe emptied therefrom by means of the drain 41 and drain plug 42 mounted on section 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The brush backing 32 being flexible may be inserted into the chamber 18 through the access opening 34 and it will spring into place in the proper position in the chamber in the same way that a fan belt will spring back into shape after it has been compressed.

'In FIG. 5 a bnush'baclring 24 of similar shape to brush-backing 24, is provided with a plurality of spirally formed bristles 42, otherwise the structure of the apparatus is as previously described. The bristles 33, however, may be positioned in spiral formation as desired.

In FIGS. 1 to 5 the apparatus will function as ground engaging wheels or as a ground engaging wheel for a golf "or caddy cart. In FIG. 1 the tire 17 is shown in engageiiieiit with the ground surface C and the pparatus rotating as the cart is pushed along, will wash the golf balls-B as the apparatus rotates. Thus, the golfer can his golf balls as he is' pushing the golf or caddy can around ashe is playing a game of golf.

In FIG. 6 the apparatus 10' is mounted by means of a shaft 19 that is mounted in a fined support 20', otherwise the structure of the apparatus 10 is as previously described. In the operation of the apparatus 10 in FIG. "6, a grooved friction drive pulley '43 that is mounted on some similar structure and the housing 46 has a cover 48'hinged thereto as at 49.

In this form of the invention a support 20 extends "into the housing 46 and has a horizontally disposed support 50 secured to the upper end thereof at right angles thereto.

V The support 50 has outer shafts 5-1 and 52 mounted at the opposite endsth'ereof and an intermediate shaft iszand the shafts 51, 52 and 1 9" are spaced from each other so that the apparatus'ltl" mounted on 'eachiof the shafts 51, 52 and 19 have the tires 17" thereon in frictional engagement with each other.

For therota'tion'of the apparatus 10 a shaft 44" is rotatably mounted in the support 2 and a grooved friction'drive puney 43'mountedfon'the shaft '44 has frictional contact with the tire 17" of the centrally positioned apparatlis 10''. A short handle 45" fixed to the outer end of 'the shaft 44" will rotate the shaft 44", as previously described. When the handle 45" is rotated to rotate the centrally locatedapparatus 10", the outer apparatus 10" will also be rotated by reason of the frictional engagement or contact of--the tire r17" thereon. v 7 7 7 Thus, the rotation of the handle 45" will cause the rotation of the three apparatuses 10", as previously described. In this figure the closure ring 35" is shown in open relation to-the opening 34" and bores 53 and 54 afe positioned in the housing 46 to retain clean or dirty golfballs B as desired.

Whether the apparatus is mounted for use, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 or ismountedin any other convenient manner, the rotation of the apparatus will thoroughly Wash and clean the golf balls B and it is believed that the structure and operation of the apparatus will be theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Havingthus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for washing golf balls comprising a a shaft 44 that is rotatably. mounted in the support 20 I cylindrical shaped body having an annular rim portion thereon, said body being hollow and provided with an access opening, a closure ring pivotally mounted on said body for cooperation with said opening, a transparent disc mounted on said ring for the inspection of the interior of said'body, a shaft extending through said body for rotatably mounting said body, a brush mounted on said shaft within said body, and a brush mounted in said body in opposed relation to the brush mounted on said shaft, a rubber tire mounted in said rim portion and said body being adapted to be rotated bya friction drive.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said body is formed of a pair of similarly shaped sections, with each section having a semi-circular peripheral portion, an annular indented portion inwardly of'said peripheral portion and an outwardly bulged central portion and said portions are welded together in fixed relation to each other.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a friction drive pulley is mounted for engagement with said body and a handle is provided for said pulley whereby upon rotation of said handle said pulley will rotate said body.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a ring shaped 'brush backing is provided for mounting the brush on said shaft, diametrically opposed wings are provided on said brush backing and bristles are mounted on the outer edges of said wings.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the brush mounted in said body is of ring formation, is flexible and the bristle tufts are mounted in said brush in parallel spaced relation to each other.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the brush on said shaft and the brush in said body are spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball.

7. An apparatus for washing golf balls comprising a 'c'ylindrical'sha-ped body formed from a pair of similar shaped sections, each of said sections including an arouate peripheral .portion, on indented intermediate portion and a. central elliptical shaped bulged portion, said sections being secured at said intermediate portions in inverted relation to each other toprovide a rim portion for a resilient tire and a centrally positioned washing chamber, a shaft extending through the center of one of said bulged portions for rotatably mounting said body, a brush mounted on said shaft centrally of said chamber 'and a plurality of brush tufts mounted in the periphery of said chamber and spaced from the brush mounted on said shaft 2 distance less than the circumference of a golf ball.

8.IAn apparatus for washing golf balls as in claim 7,

" wherein the other of said bulged portions has an access opening therein, a closure ring pivotally mounted on the other of said bulged portions for cooperation with said opening and a transparent discmounted on said ring for the inspection of the interior of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,366,306 Wick Ian. '18, 1921 1,780,850 Strong NOV. 4, 1930 1,954,738 Lerch Apr. 10, 1934 2,733,464 Mieux Feb. 7, 1956 2,876,473 Fox Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,008 Germany Jan. 7, 1932 697,358 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1953 739,999 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1955 

